The Prothrombin Consumption Time Test in Thrombocytopenia^[*]

Summary

The serum from adult platelet-poor plasma has a residual prothrombin content nearly as high as that of the plasma when measured by either the prothrombin consumption test or the two-stage method of Ware and Seegers. Good agreement between the two methods is obtained when the prothrombin concentration is altered by such means as absorption with Ca₃(PO₄)₂. The prothrombin consumption test is a simple but delicate measure of the function of platelets in the generation of intrinsic thromboplastin.

^* This work was supported by a grant from the National Heart Institute, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Public Health Service.

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